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ST. LOUIS — As about 300 people gathered downtown Monday morning to honor soldiers who have died in the line of duty, the damage left behind by this month’s deadly tornado remained top of mind.

Mark Sundlov, managing director of the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, took a moment at the beginning of his remarks to read the names of the five people killed in the storm before holding a moment of silence in their memory.

Monday’s annual wreath-laying ceremony outside the museum was attended by several regional leaders, including ӣ����Ƶ police Chief Robert Tracy and U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell, D-ӣ����Ƶ.

ӣ����Ƶ Mayor Cara Spencer addressed the crowd and also mentioned the impact of the tornado on the community, describing it as the worst disaster the city has seen in her lifetime.

Becoming emotional, she also spoke about her father’s, uncle’s and grandfather’s military service.

“I know that today, especially, his heart is heavy,” she said of her father. “It’s difficult for him to recall young soldiers he met in basic training, many of whom did not make it back.”

The program included an invocation by the Rev. James Williams, a remembrance ceremony for prisoners of war and those missing in action, a keynote speech by Maj. Gen. Charles D. Bolton and a procession into the courtyard where wreaths were laid at each memorial as the Red and Black Brass band led a train of people who also placed yellow carnations along the memorials.

Brothers and U.S. Marine Corps veterans Chester Kennedy and Darren Casimere said they come to the ceremony every year.

“They sacrificed their life for us,” Kennedy said. “Being a part of this is honorable for me.”

The two men, who both live in ӣ����Ƶ, praised Monday’s ceremony and observed it was shorter than last year’s and without the usual accompanying parade.

“I’m just glad with the storm and every thing, they still allowed this to happen,” Casimere said. “Because everyone else is going through a whole lot of tragedy in the city.”

Army veteran William Guyton said he also comes every year to pay his respects. This year, he was excited to see the city’s new mayor speak after voting for Spencer in the April election.

“Managing her job is going to be difficult,” he said while reflecting on the tornado. “It’s going to be a long time for the city to recover.”

Monday was also the last day for people to visit the museum’s “Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II” exhibit. It explored the story of U.S. Army’s 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, a top-secret unit that waged war with inflatable tanks and vehicles, fake radio traffic, sound effects and phony generals.